"Common Flowers to Dry"

Achillea (Yarrow)

Yellow varieties produce large, flat heads of tiny blossoms on that that may be 3 feet tall. Red and pink varieties are not as tall and have smaller flowers. Harvest by cutting near the base of the stem. Dry upright, suspended through wire mesh or upside down. Low maintenance perennial.

Artemisia ("Silver King" or "Silver Queen")

These tall, branching perennials are used for their gray-green foliage, which makes a beautiful base for herb wreaths. Harvested before a hard frost. At this stage it can be dried standing up. For creating wreaths, artemisia should be used while it is fresh and pliable.

Celosia (Plume Celosia)

Feathery plume celosia comes in a variety of vivid colors ranging from pale cream and yellow through deep, russet orange and from pale pink through deep crimson. If the early annual flower plumes are cut off, the plants will produce subsequent crops of smaller heads on branching stems. To dry, lay it on its side on a screen. Do not hang to dry.

Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)

An annual which comes in red, white, pink, and rich red-purple. Pick individual stems as the flowers mature. To dry, hang in bundles.

Gypsophila (Baby's Breath)

Great clouds of tiny white or pink blossoms turn this perennial into a white shrub when it is in full bloom. Since the plants often bloom in sections, cut each stem when about three-fourths of its flowers are fully opened, the rest still in bud stage. Run a string through the lower branches and hang each clump.

Helichrysum (Strawflower)

Probably the best known of all the annual everlastings. Colors range from white and yellow to orange and brown and all shades of pink and red. Harvest by cutting each flower head individually at its base. Place on wire stems by pushing the end of a wire into the soft base where the stem is cut, and dry by standing it upright. As the flower dries, it closes tightly around the wire.

Limonium (Statice)

This sturdy annual is available in beautiful shades of blue and purple, as well as pink, white and yellow. Perennial forms have tiny flowers in pale lavender and white. Harvest entire stems when the flowers are fully bloomed, but have not yet begun to fade. They can be tied in clumps and either hung or massed upright in vases to dry.

Anaphalis margaritacea (Pearly Everlasting)

This plant grows in some places as a common roadside weed, if it is picked it often fails to regenerate. Therefore it is better to buy this plant from commercial growers. The small, pure white flowers can be replaced with the larger varieties of baby's breath for most uses.

Calluna vulgaris (Heather)

The pink spikes of tiny, bead-like flowers of this plant dry easily and retain their color. Hang heather upside down to dry.

Centaurea rutifolia or Senecio cineraria
(Dusty Miller)

This gray foliage plant is usually purchased at nurseries, and it grows easily. The thick, furry leaves are almost white and have a delicate, lacy cut edge. It can be dried easily by pressing between sheets of paper.

Cortaderia argentia (Pampas Grass)

Daveus carota (Queen Anne's Lace)

This is a common weed and roadside flower with large, flat, white blossoms. When dried, it umbels close into a pale green cluster that is very striking in arrangements. An easy way to dry Queen Anne's Lace is to put a piece of chicken wire over a box and drop the heads through the wires.

Filipendula hexapetala (Meadowsweet)

This roadside shrub has spikes of fluffy pink flowers in the summer. Gather these and stand or hang them to dry. They will darken as they dry, but they make nice accents in arrangements.

Gnaphalium (Fairy Gold)

Also known as annual achillea (yarrow), this low-growing plant has clusters of small, bright yellow buttons.

Helipterum roseum, H. manglesii
(African Daisy)

Two other names for the African Daisy are Acrolinium and Rhodanthe. Its small, daisy like flowers in pink and white have yellow centers. It can be grown from seed or nursery plants. The stems tend to be very brittle, so they are usually replaced by very thin florist wire.

Lavandula officinalis (Lavender)

This woody perennial herb has spikes of very fragrant tiny purple blossoms. Dried on the stem, lavender can be used in small arrangements, but is most often used in potpourri.

Origanum vulgare (Marjoram)

The culinary herb, sweet marjoram, has pale and insignificant blossoms but the wild, or "pot," marjoram grows taller and has deep rose to purple blooms that dry beautifully. The stems are sturdy, and the flowers may be dried standing in a dry vase or basket.

Rosa rugosa, R. centifolia, R. multiflora (Roses)

The old June-blooming varieties are the kind most often used for craft work, since they retain their sweet fresh scent. Craft suppliers sell small rosebuds for craft projects. They can also be purchased fresh from florist suppliers. If you are fortunate enough to obtain them, snip them as closed buds, leaving about an inch of stem attached. Dry them in the shade, scattered on screens. Full-blown roses can be picked to dry and the petals used for potpourri.

Solidago sempervirens (Goldenrod)

Abundant in vacant lots and fields throughout much of North America, goldenrod should be picked before it is in full bloom to keep the heads from shattering as they dry.

Stachys olympica (Lamb's Ear)

Also called woolly betony, this is a perennial that can be purchased from herb farms. The large, oblong leaves are light gray-green, soft, and furry. Rosettes of the leaves are used on wreaths and in arrangements by attaching them to florist picks while they are still fresh and not yet brittle.

Tanacetum vulare (Tansy)

An old-fashioned garden perennial, tansy grows wild, especially near the ocean. Its bright yellow buttons grow in clusters on tall stems. Pick them just before they are fully bloomed and dry by hanging.